7/10/2014 6:36 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Dallas Davidson -- a famous country lyricist who's written huge hits, like "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," "Country Girl, (Shake It For Me)" and "That's How Country Boys Roll," was arrested in Nashville early Thursday morning for fighting, hurling racial slurs and screaming, "There's that f***ing fa***t that punched me."

We're told Dallas was at Tin Roof in downtown Nashville when he got in a fight in the bar with various people.

Law enforcement tells us ... Dallas was challenging various people to fight-- swearing, punching his hand and screaming a string of obscenities. And they say he shouted various racial and homophobic slurs.

Cops say he reeked of booze and was arrested for disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

He was booked at 2:50 AM and is about to be released at the time of this post. We're told during the time he was held jailers administered a "medical screening."

Dallas and his ex-wife, Sarah Davidson, are both stars on the reality show, "Private Lives ofNashville Wives."